Humphrey m
English: of Germanic origin, introduced to Britain by the Normans. It is composed of the elements hun bear-cub, warrior + fred, frid peace. A form of this name (Hunfrith) existed in England before the Conquest, but it was replaced by the Norman Continental version Hunfrid. The spelling with -ph-reflects classicizing influence. It has always enjoyed a modest popularity in England. Perhaps its best known bearer was the Duke of Gloucester (1391–1447), youngest son of King Henry IV, known as ‘Duke Humphrey’. He was noted as a patron of literature, and founded what is now part of the Bodleian Library at Oxford. In Ireland this has been used as an Anglicized form of Gaelic AMHLAOIBH (SEE Amhlaoibh).
Variant: Humphry.
Cognate: Welsh: Wmffre.
Pet form: English: Huffie.
First names dictionary. 2012.